A costly touch by suspicious mind

 A MAN has been put on a 12-month good behaviour bond for sexual touching his wife.

The National Court in Kokopo had imposed a three-year jail term on Michael Sion, 45, from Gaulim village in Gazelle district, but suspended this for 12 months on the condition that he did not commit another offence in that period.

Sion, who admitted the offence, was also ordered by Justice Salatiel Lenalia to pay his wife K500 as compensation.

The court heard that Sion had suspected his wife of having an extra-marital affair and used to examine her body at night using a torch. She got fed up and reported the matter to village elders.

Justice Lenalia told Sion he should have more respect for his wife.

“It is not fair for you to treat your own wife like that,” he said. 

“Your wife is the person who can support you when you are in trouble or in sickness and you (should have) talked over the issue with your wife in private.

“Love is an intimate relationship and ought to be kept within its bounds so that there is no spill-over in the sense of physical harm caused to each other.”

Sion apologised to the court, his wife and relatives and asked for leniency, saying he had three children. with the eldest in Grade 10.

The prosecutor said it was the second case in the province in which a husband was charged with sexually touching his wife.

The other case involved a couple from Watom Island.